Trinity Sunday at Glenville UMC

Prayer shawl for Nancy H., a friend of Belinda's

Shelley G. is today's reader

"The Trinity Made Simple"

JOYS

+ Pastor Charles said that after 34 years in ministry he will become officially in a "retired status" with the United Methodist Church effective July 1, 2026. (That being said, there will be no change in his ministerial setting at Thorne Crest Senior Living Center in Albert Lea and the Glenville United Methodist Church.) 

+ Shelley G. thanks God for last weekend's joyful family celebrations: granddaughter graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa; grandson graduated from high school in Plymouth, Minnesota.

+ Bob S. thanks God for the nearly 2,000 people who attended last week's Memorial Day gathering at a New Ulm cemetery, where he served as a keynote speaker. He said it was an amazing sight to see @ 400 5'x8' burial flags waving in the breeze that day.

+ Belinda A. said it was great to see Sid T.'s white Corvette convertible in the Thorne Crest car show last Thursday.

CONCERNS

+ Belinda A. invited the church family to join her in praying for her dear friend Nancy (in Texas) who is in the hospital, dealing with medical challenges. (Belinda asked the church family to bless one of Shelley G.'s beautiful handmade prayer shawls for Nancy.)

+ Rita W. invited the church family to join her in praying for her friend Steve who is having knee surgery tomorrow.

Bulletin for Trinity Sunday

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” – 2 Corinthians 13:14

Prelude Music

Welcome & Announcements

*Call to Worship - posted on Rev-o-lution

God our Father, our Creator, who made the heavens and earth: We are Your children, and we are in awe of all You have made. Christ the Son, our Redeemer and Savior, You lived and died for us all: You live again and have prepared the way for us. Holy Spirit, the Sustainer, You move in us and among us: We follow Your wisdom and feel Your presence. God, Triune, Three-in-one, help us to know You more fully. Guide us in this time of worship. Amen. 

*Hymn: “From All That Dwell Below the Skies," #101

*Prayer for Trinity Sunday - posted on Soul Shepherding

The Trinity restores you; they make Their face to shine all around you so that you are saved. The Father loves you; He makes His face to shine down on you so that you are saved. The Son graces you; He makes His face to shine right beside you so that you are saved. The Spirit lives in you; She makes Her face to shine inside you so that you are saved. The Trinity empowers you; They make their face to shine through you so that others are saved. Amen.

*Gloria Patri: #70

*Passing the Peace of Christ

Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer 

The Lord’s Prayer (sung)

Invitation to the Offering

*Doxology: #95

*Offering Prayer

Epistle Lesson: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Hymn: “Holy, Holy, Holy,” #64

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon: “The Trinity Made Simple”

*Hymn: “Go, Make of All Disciples," #571

*Benediction

*Choral Amen

Postlude Music

“The worship is ended; let the service begin.”

*Please rise in body or in spirit.

Laughing With the Trinity

Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green
New Haven, Connecticut

Do you want to know what goes on in the core of the Trinity?

I will tell you.

In the core of the Trinity

the Father laughs

and gives birth to the Son.

The Son laughs back at the Father

and gives birth to the Spirit.

The whole Trinity laughs

and gives birth to us.      

Meister Eckhart, German theologian, philosopher, and mystic (1260-1327)

A new opportunity to grow in faith

News is inevitable - whether it's considered good or bad, it's how we share what's going on in our communities, nation, and the world.

Each week, The Wired Word takes a current news story and juxtaposes it next to Bible verses and stories as tools to navigate our daily walk with Christ. This is a unique way for us to extract hope and find ways to live out our faith in our journey with God.

If you would like to receive the weekly lesson (delivered each Thursday), please let Pastor Charles know!

Wednesday with the Wesleys

How shall we blush to behold that exceeding and eternal weight of glory, that is conferred upon us for that little, or rather nothing, which we have done or suffered for our Lord! That God gave us being, that preserved us, that fed and clothed us in our passage through the world; and what is infinitely more, that gave his only son to die for us; and has by his grace purified and conducted us safe to his glory. Oh, blessed grace! Mysterious love! How shall we then adore and praise what we cannot here apprehend aright! How will love and joy work in the soul! But I cannot express it, I cannot conceive it…

~ Susanna Wesley

Prayer for Memorial Day

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." — Matthew 5:4

Almighty God, before whom stand the living and the dead, we Your children, whose mortal life is but a hand’s breadth, give thanks to You: For all those through whom You have blessed our pilgrimage, whose lives that have empowered us, whose influence is a healing grace, we lift up thankful hearts.

For the dear friends and family members whose faces we see no more,                     but whose love is with us forever . . .

For the teachers and companions of our childhood and youth, and for the members of our household of faith who worship You now in heaven…

For those who sacrificed themselves, our brothers and sisters who have given their lives for the sake of others…

That we may hold them all in continual remembrance, and ever think of them as with You in that city whose gates are not shut by day and where there is no night…

That we may now be dedicated to working for a world where labor is rewarded, fear dispelled, and the nations made one, O Lord, save Your people and bless Your heritage. Day by day we magnify You, and worship Your name, for ever and ever. Amen.

From the website of Wellspring UMC - Oswego, Illinois

Scripture lessons for Trinity Sunday

Andrei Rublev's Holy Trinity icon (1411)

We bring the month of May to a conclusion next week as we celebrate one of the most unique aspects of Christianity: The Trinity. 

Our lessons will come to us from 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 and Matthew 28:16-20.

What happened the day AFTER Aldersgate?

The moment I awakened, “Jesus, Master,” was in my heart and in my mouth; and I found all my strength lay in keeping my eye fixed upon Him and my soul waiting on Him continually. Being again at St. Paul's in the afternoon, I could taste the good word of God in the anthem which began, “With my mouth will I ever be showing forth thy truth from one generation to another.” Yet the enemy injected a fear, “If thou dost believe, why is there not a more sensible change? I answered (yet not I), “That I know not. But this I know, I have ‘now peace with God.’ And I sin not today, and Jesus my Master has forbidden me to take thought for the morrow.”

- John Wesley (journal entry May 25, 1738 -- the day after Aldersgate)

Joys & Concerns from May 24

It's Pentecost in Glenville!

Bob & Gloria S. welcome Roy B. to worship

Kraig S. is today's reader

Nancy B. shares flowers from her garden with
Donna D.

Pentecost cupcakes (birthday of the church=birthday cake!)

JOYS

+ Thank God for much needed rain.

+ Thank God for warmer weather ... finally.

+ Thankful for fun church Ad. Board meetings.

+ Thankful for Nancy B. sharing beautiful flowers from her garden.

+ Thank God for travelling mercies.

+ Bob S. is thankful to be going to New Ulm tomorrow to give a Memorial Day address.

+ Pastor Charles is thankful for the gift of three plastic pin-backed buttons that were given to him this morning.

+ Thankful for another day in God's Kingdom here on earth.

+ Thankful for peoples' efforts to place American flags at cemeteries.

Today in Methodist History

From John Wesley's journal entry for Wednesday, May 24, 1738:

I think it was about five this morning that I opened my Testament on those words, “There are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, even that ye should be partakers of the divine nature” [II Peter 1:4].

Just as I went out, I opened it again on those words, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God” [Mark 12:34]. In the afternoon I was asked to go to St. Paul’s. The anthem was, “Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. Oh, let Thine ears consider well the voice of my complaint. If Thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, O Lord, who may abide it? For there is mercy with Thee; therefore, shalt Thou be feared. O Israel, trust in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his sins.”

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

I began to pray with all my might for those who had in a more especial manner despitefully used me and persecuted me. I then testified openly to all there what I now first felt in my heart.

But it was not long before the enemy suggested, “This cannot be faith; for where is thy joy?” Then was I taught that peace and victory over sin are essential to faith in the Captain of our salvation; but that, as to the transports of joy that usually attend the beginning of it, especially in those who have mourned deeply, God sometimes giveth, sometimes withholdeth, them according to the counsels of His own will.

After my return home, I was much buffeted with temptations, but I cried out, and they fled away. They returned again and again. I as often lifted up my eyes, and He “sent me help from his holy place.” And herein I found the difference between this and my former state chiefly consisted. I was striving, yea, fighting with all my might under the law, as well as under grace. But then I was sometimes, if not often, conquered; now, I was always conqueror.

Pentecost Sunday bulletin

“For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 12:13

Prelude Music

Welcome & Announcements

*Call to Worship - written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith.

God of wind and fire, when You send Your Spirit, we are created anew. God of mighty oceans and still waters, when we receive Your baptism, we are born anew. God of bread and wine, when we eat at Your table, we are nourished anew. So, pour out Your Spirit, let sacred waters flow, fill us with holy food. May our hearts and our hands be open wide to receive Your gifts of life. Amen.

*Hymn: "Spirit of the Living God," #393

*Prayer for Aldersgate Day – Fred D. Gealy, USA, 20th Cent., Alt.

Almighty God, in a time of great need You raised up Your servants John and Charles Wesley, and by Your Spirit inspired them to kindle a flame of sacred love which leaped and ran, an inextinguishable blaze. Grant that all those whose hearts have been warmed at these altar fires, being continually refreshed by Your grace, may be so devoted to the increase of scriptural holiness throughout the land that in this our time of great need, Your will may fully and effectively be done on earth as it is in heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Gloria Patri: #70

*Passing the Peace of Christ

Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer 

The Lord’s Prayer

*Offering

*Doxology: #95

*Offering Prayer

First Lesson: Acts 2:1-13

Hymn: “We Are the Church,” #558

Second Lesson: Acts 2:14-21

Sermon: “Let’s Make Some Noise!”

*Hymn: “I'm Gonna Sing When the Spirit Says Sing," #333

*Benediction

*Choral Amen

Postlude Music

“The worship is ended; let the service begin.”

*Please rise in body or in spirit.

A hymn for Pentecost

Lord, we believe to us and ours

The apostolic promise given;

We wait the pentecostal powers,

The Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.

Assembled here with one accord,

Calmly we wait the promised grace,

The purchase of our dying Lord;

Come, Holy Ghost, and fill the place.

If every one that asks may find,

If still thou dost on sinner fall,

Come as a mighty rushing wind;

Great grace be now upon us all.

Ah! leave us not to mourn below,

Or long for thy return to pine;

Now, Lord, the Comforter bestow,

And fix in us the Guest divine.

- Charles Wesley

Today in Methodist History

From Charles Wesley's journal entry for May 21, 1738:

"I now found myself at peace with God and rejoiced in hope of loving Christ. My temper for the rest of the day was, mistrust of my own great, but before unknown, weakness. I saw that by faith I stood; by the continual support of faith, which kept me from falling, though of myself I am ever sinking into sin. I went to bed still sensible of my own weakness, (I humbly hope to be more and more so,) yet confident of Christ's protection."

Wednesday with the Wesleys

"Lord, let us not give up your cause, nor abandon your work. Let us not give up the fight. Let us persevere, until we see your kingdom come and enter into your glory. Amen."

- Francis Asbury (1745-1816)

UMC Bishops Express Deep Concern Over Supreme Court Voting Rights Decision

Council of Bishops

The United Methodist Church
Press Release
For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church is acutely aware of, and deeply concerned about, the recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to deny protection to Section Two of the Voting Rights Act.

We stand in prayerful solidarity with the statements and leadership offered by the General Board of Church and Society and by Bishop Jonathan Holston.

This decision carries grave implications for the protection of voting rights and the full political voice of Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities across parts of the United States.

Read more at this link.

Shoulder to Shoulder

The interfaith Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign, which includes The Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church and the General Board of Church and Society, condemns the tragic, deadly violence committed at the Islamic Center of San Diego, and joins the greater San Diego community in solidarity and prayers for safety and healing. The coalition also condemns anti-Muslim rhetoric that has been on the rise.

Read the statement at this link.

Scripture lessons for the Day of Pentecost

As we celebrate the Day of Pentecost next Sunday, we will turn to Acts 2:1-21 for the scripture lesson.

Together at Glenville UMC

Seven prayer shawls were dedicated today

Pastor Charles gets up for the gospel lesson!

Faithful attendance

Mike, Bob, and Sid keep things moving in the meeting

Laughter in a church meeting!

Joys

+ We thank God for Korla S. worshipping with us this morning.

+ Korla S. thanks the church family for the loving ways it has supported her after her recent accident.

+ We celebrate that the church’s directional sign was installed last week.

+ We thank God for the church’s involvement in yesterday’s Freeborn County Church Tour sponsored by the Albert Lea Art Center. Twenty-one people provided positive feedback about their visit. 🤍

+ Thanks be to God for this weekend’s 2026 Patriot Tour’s festivities. (Bob S. said 162 motorcycles and 4 cars participated.) Thanks be to God for this volunteer group’s efforts resulting in continuing to support disabled veterans and their families. (September 19, 2026, the American flag will return to our area, after its touring all fifty states. At the time, it will be presented to the Glenville Legion Riders for their safekeeping.)

+ Thanks be to God for the blessing of prayer shawls in today's worship.

+ Kraig and Korla S. thank God for their granddaughter’s success in a recent Taekwondo tournament.

+ We thank God for the gift of laughter in church – “carbonated holiness’ says Anne Lamott. (Thank you for sharing a joke before worship, Sid T.)

+ Thanks be to God for the gift of rain.

+ Pastor Charles thanks God for his mother’s special handmade gift that features red trucks on it (which look like the one he totaled/lost last year). He appreciates his mother taking the time to celebrate the special time he had driving that truck. (Yes, he still mourns its loss.)

+ Shelley G. celebrates her granddaughter’s milestone achievement of graduating from college.

+ We celebrate the upbeat, fun gathering of church members who participated in last Wednesday’s United Women in Faith gathering at Karnella S.’ residence at Hidden Creek.

+ We praise God for the faithful service of our beloved pianist, Renae H., and for Bob S. who served as usher today.

Concerns

+ Shelley G. prays for God’s help in navigating life without her granddaughter living near her. The granddaughter and her cat Jeffery are moving to Colorado for the next two years.

+ Praying for all who are dealing with medical challenges (and the people who love and care for them): Korla S., Judy C., Karnella S., Dawn K.’s friend Gen, Rita W.’s friend Pat, Shelley G.’s daughter Melanie, Nancy B.’s sister Sharon, and Craig and Pat R.

+ Praying for the family and friends of Gloria and Bob S.’ friend Billy N. who died last Sunday.

+ Dawn K. is thankful for a recent judicial decision regarding the proposed site in the area for a battery energy storage system.

+ Praying for our country … and the world.

+Praying for all who are impacted directly and indirectly by conflict in the world.

+Praying for peace.

Bulletin for Ascension Sunday

“O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!” – Psalm 68:35 (NKJV)

Prelude Music

Welcome & Announcements

*Call to Worship (inspired by Acts 1:9-11) - Posted on Rev-o-lution.

A new day has begun. Hope wins! A fresh start is granted. Faith wins! Today you have the opportunity to do something new. Hope wins! Christ is entering your life in a new way. Faith wins! Come, let us worship God, who is inviting us into life in a new way, a way that transcends death, a way of hope and faith. Love wins! Let us worship Christ, who overcame death to give us new life! 

*Hymn: “Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain,” #315

*Prayer for Ascension Sunday - from the Christian Aid website (UK)

Risen and ascended Lord Jesus, when we are numbed by the suffering of the world, take us back to the deep truth of Your power and glory, of Your invincible Kingdom, of Your promise of reconciliation. In the knowledge of this truth, help us to bring our gaze to earth and find the strength to go into the world, to do Your will on earth as in heaven to build the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

*Gloria Patri: #70    

*Passing the Peace of Christ

 Joys and Concerns

 Pastoral Prayer 

The Lord’s Prayer (sung)                                             

 Invitation to the Offering

 *Doxology: #95                                           

 *Offering Prayer

 Epistle Lesson: Ephesians 1:15-23

 Hymn: “Thine Be the Glory,” #308

 Second Lesson: Acts 1:1-11

 Sermon: “Up, Up, and Away!”

 *Hymn: “Blessed Assurance,” #369

 *Benediction

 *Choral Amen

 Postlude Music

 “The worship is ended; let the service begin.”

  *Please rise in body or in spirit.

Today's Church Tour

A beautiful morning in Glenville

 The tour starts here!

Love in action in Glenville

A friendly welcome

Belinda A. & Gloria S. greet visitors

The Albert Lea Art Center (Pastor Charles is a board member) held its first Church Tour fundraiser today with six churches, including Glenville UMC, taking part. Bob & Gloria S. and Blinda & Pastor Charles were present to share with visitors some of things that make our church so wonderful!

Our sign is up!

Glenville UMC now has a sign up at the corner of Main Street and First Ave., SW (by the fire station) which directs visitors to our lovely church!

Ascension Day Hymn

By Charles Wesley, 1739

Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia!

To His throne above the skies, Alleluia!

Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!

Reascends His native heaven, Alleluia!

There the glorious triumph waits, Alleluia!

Lift your heads, eternal gates, Alleluia!

Christ hath conquered death and sin, Alleluia!

Take the King of glory in, Alleluia!

Lo! the heaven its Lord receives, Alleluia!

Yet He loves the earth He leaves, Alleluia!

Though returning to His throne, Alleluia!

Still He calls mankind His own, Alleluia!

See! He lifts His hands above, Alleluia!

See! He shows the prints of love, Alleluia!

Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia!

Blessings on His church below, Alleluia!

Still for us He intercedes, Alleluia!

His prevailing death He pleads, Alleluia!

Near Himself prepares our place, Alleluia!

He the first-fruits of our race, Alleluia!

Lord, though parted from our sight, Alleluia!

Far above the starry height, Alleluia!

Grant our hearts may thither rise, Alleluia!

Seeking Thee beyond the skies, Alleluia!